Women's suits.

I don’t think you’re making a fuss over nothing. But if you would like some practical solutions then I think you’d get further on Style on Beauty than on here.

www.hobbs.co.uk/womens-work-suits

Collection of tailored jackets with matching dresses, skirts and shock horror- trousers.

Now informed that you basically have no choice but to shop for clothes online

That is a huge exaggeration.

No, I don't agree that this is a FWR issue. I went back into a professional environment this year after a few years out of it. I had absolutely no problem whatsoever finding smart clothes for interviews and building a new work wardrobe. Like I said, I think you're making a fuss out of nothing.

Women have a much wider choice of workwear than men. Sorry that you're disappointed that your internet search doesn't return fairly homogenous trouser suits for women like it does for men. That doesn't make this a FWR issue.

*Because I thought it was a womans issue.

Getting smart for an interview is important. Men can do it easily*

I think most women manage it quite easily as well, and if they don't they probably seek advice on a board thats dedicated to clothing ... something like Style and beauty.

Honestly, just because something happened to one woman - you in this case - doesn't make it a 'woman's issue'.

randomsabreuse

@StopThePlanet

UK stores generally have bog all in store. Half the stores have helpful terminals for you to order online from the store you are standing in...

Thanks for filling me in on that I had no idea I've never bought clothing in the UK. I would end up sewing all of my own clothes - that reminds me I need to make a new robe.

We are lucky enough to have outlet malls (Calvin Klein, BCBG, Saks, etc. selling previous seasons' fashions) as well as normal malls and upscale malls in these parts. I personally hate shopping so I just pick a Saturday a few times a year and make my way through the chore of buying clothes to get to the reward of a well-deserved cocktail (clothes off and on off and on - I hate it). But I like it better than ordering a bunch of stuff online that shows up and doesn't fit or has defects that I then have to mail back etc. - suits (business and swimwear) never work for me when purchased online but I occasionally find better loungewear online than in-person.

Now informed that you basically have no choice but to shop for clothes online I have a newfound appreciation for my few times a year chore.

Why is this on FWR?

You're making a fuss over nothing

You really are. You're looking for something to be annoyed about.

The comparison with "men's suits" is apples and oranges. Of course there's no damn filters needed for men's suits because other than price they are all basically the same garment.

When I started work in the early 1980s there were loads of mid price ranges for tailored women's skirt or trouser suits- Alexon, Planet, Liz Claiborne, Windsmoor, Country Casuals, Austen Reed, Jaeger and others I can't remember. None of them exist now because presumably women aren't that interested in buying tailored suits. Now on the high street I can't think of anyone who does tailored suits other than Hobbs.

Of course there are still retailers who sell tailored skirts and trousers and jackets all in the same material if that's what you want and it's not difficult to find . You really are making a mountain out of molehill.

Thinking back Alexon et al always sold their "suits" as 2 separately priced items, so you could buy skirt/ trousers in one size and jacket in another or even just one part of the suit- which is never the case for men's suits.

You’re right that high street quality has tanked over the last decade or so, especially in womenswear. Plus a lot of workplace dress codes in the UK are far more relaxed now - the change is very marked where I work. (From what I can gather it’s less so in the USA). So double whammy in that fewer retailers sell women's tailored suits because there’s less demand, and what they do sell is much poorer quality.

You could try posting on Style and Beauty and asking where women who work in a corporate environment buy tailored suits. Or yes, you could buy a man’s suit (it probably would be better quality) and find a tailor. I’ve had a few men’s jackets/coats altered.

@StopThePlanet

UK stores generally have bog all in store. Half the stores have helpful terminals for you to order online from the store you are standing in...

I got an email from H&M today, advertising their autumn collection of suits and workwear.

The cheek of them, they shouid know I only shop there for casual clothes, and I shouldn't have to use filters to see only what I want rather than everything that fits the search terms

I'm not sure why the decline in M&S's quality is a feminist issue?

its noticeable that this year I've not been able to buy replacement bikini bottom shorts as usual. They've had those for years as I've had to go in the pool with kids for years; they always felt more appropriate. I have a long body so have to have tankinis. They're all high waist high leg this year.

placemats

If your staff looks low-rent the assumption is going to be that the product/service is low rent

I was agreeing with you there - i.e. proper attire for your workplace. I qualified that statement in my post and you cherry-picked one sentence out of that long-ass post because you want to pick at someone.

It all depends what you are paying your staff. Obviously USA. Obviously another patronising reply.

Um I said I'm in the USA - no secret there, no gotcha. I also said that online shops put their lowest quality up but that in-person they may have something better. I wasn't patronizing you at all I was trying to be helpful but it looks like you just want to complain.

And by the way everyone on my staff makes enough to buy a decent suit. Attire should be commensurate with the service/product i.e. a professional licensed plumber in a torn shirt with ass crack hanging out looks low rent the same plumber with a dirty but intact shirt and ass crack covered doesn't look low rent that's the point I'm making.

I'm not denying people the choices of what they want to wear all I'm asking for is where can I purchase a good suit like the one I bought in 2010. It was an M&S suit.

Neither am I... and I don't know M&S but I did AGAIN qualify that they would probably have a better selection in a physical store. I gave you suggestions I even asked you if you had any stores like that where you live.

You said that you bought a suit nine years ago - I buy suits every year so considering your post I thought my perspective may be helpful.

I like buying online. I understand textiles. I understand quality and I understand price.

Great, great, great, and great. I didn't say you didn't know any of those things I was just giving some insight in case this isn't something you do often. I specifically don't buy suits online because I have a very hourglass shape and can't get something online that's made for the masses and have it look appropriate on me (because I'm not flat chested and thin-hipped). Nothing patronizing there just one woman (me) sharing her perspective on suit buying with another woman (you) that appears to be not as versed or experienced as I. Not because I'm smarter or better or cooler but because I buy two+ suits a year and you haven't bought one in a decade.

I'm not being an asshole I was trying to be supportive as I assumed that you are actually looking for insight/help.

But I get it, fuck me for engaging. You are just looking to be bothered and complain and aren't interested in actual solutions that much is readily apparent. Have fun getting mad at things you are making up in your head.

You're making a fuss over nothing.

My mum's colleague being sent home from work to change because she was wearing a trouser suit in the 70s = a feminist issue (at the time)

Not getting exactly what you want on an internet search because you weren't specific enough = not a feminist issue. In fact not really an issue at all.

Filtering by Jackets I can see maybe 5 out of 50 items I'd consider looking out. The rest are much more casual, draped type things and if you don't suit burgundy even more limited.

Had to do emergency clothes shop for DH yesterday- Chinos plus not white shirt for "wedding weekends" stuff other than the actual wedding. Armed with waist size, neck size and a bit of brand knowledge (size up in Topman/Burtons) I managed to buy him more clothes that fit than I have found in shops in the last 4 years (we both hate shopping). Fabric quality was way better in menswear than in womenswear too - in the same shops!

www.johnlewis.com/browse/women/workwear/jackets/trousers/show-in-stock-items-only/_/N-6uuqZ1z13zxqZ1z1405hZ1z0wxdt

From your example

Hide the out of stock items
Filter by size
Filter by colour

The annoying thing is that M&S and Next both carry traditional tailoring in good quality fabrics in their menswear departments. With the £200+ price tag. They do not carry the equivalent in the womenswear department. Or at least not in my local stores.

My local (ish - 20 minutes drive) town has Debenhams, Next and M&S for "quality" clothing stores. The rest are discounters or high fashion or sportswear. Ok said town is not high end...

Debenhams used to be a decent department store of the type you mention. They are now pretty limited and you can spend ££ or £££ on shit fabrics with a more or less fashionable label.

To get a basic wool suit (although I prefer harder wearing trousers thanks to narrow hips, chunky thigh issues) you have to go to specialist places generally found in big cities - like Austin Reed (now defunct), Ede and Ravenscroft (Oxford, London possibly Birmingham/Manchester) or possibly TM Lewin/ Hawes and Curtis (mostly places like Canary Wharf, big London Stations, Bond Street). None of these are in your generic mall, even the big ones like Meadowhall in Sheffield and Merry Hill near Birmingham basically do fast fashion for women while there are a few quality fabric options for men. Most of my recent shopping trips involve looking around, touching 5 or so items, discarding 4 at this point and trying on the 5th to find it has a frill or other flounce ruining an otherwise classic item!

Have you tried using filters?